China to conduct major military exercise in South China Sea: report

China to conduct major military exercise in South China Sea: report

China's People's Liberation Army Navy plans to conduct a large-scale amphibious assault drill off Hainan Island in August, according to the Japan Times.

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RESTRICTIONS: Broadcast: NO USE JAPAN, NO USE TAIWAN Digital: NO USE JAPAN, NO USE TAIWAN China's People's Liberation Army Navy plans to conduct a large-scale amphibious assault drill off Hainan Island in August, according to the Japan Times.

Citing unnamed Chinese sources, the Japan Times reports the drill will involve landing ships, hovercraft and helicopters, while the carrier Shandong has been deployed in Hainan since December last year.

The exercise is designed to simulate a navy and marines attack on the Taiwan-held Pratas, a strategically important islet that sits astride China's military egress from Hainan to the Pacific Ocean.

According to Reuters, Taiwan in April announced plans to buy arms from France to upgrade its fleet of six French-made La Fayette-class frigates.

The U.S. Naval Institute reports a U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class destroyer made a transit through the Taiwan Strait to warn Beijing's leadership against taking aggressive action in the region.

The Japan Times reports U.S. electronic warfare aircraft may have passed the strait 14 times in April alone.

According to Taiwan's state-run Central News Agency, a Chinese Y-8 aircraft flew into Taiwan's air defense identification zone before being headed off by fighter jets on April 8.

This is the seventh time Chinese military planes flew near Taiwan's airspace this year.

RUNDOWN SHOWS: 1.

China's planned amphibious assault exercise 2.

Drill aimed to simulate invading Taiwan's Pratas Island 3.

US warship recently passed through Taiwan Strait to deter China 4.

Taiwan fighter jets turned away a Chinese Y-8 plane from its ADIZ VOICEOVER (in English): "China's People's Liberation Army Navy plans to conduct a large-scale amphibious assault drill off Hainan Island in August." "Citing unnamed Chinese sources, the Japan Times reports the drill will involve landing ships, hovercraft and helicopters, while the carrier Shandong has been deployed in Hainan since December last year." "According to the Japan Times, the exercise is designed to simulate a navy and marines attack on the Taiwan-held Pratas, a strategically important islet that sits astride China's military egress from Hainan to the Pacific Ocean." "The U.S. Naval Institute reports a U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class destroyer made a transit through the Taiwan Strait to warn Beijing's leadership against taking aggressive action in the region." "The Japan Times reports U.S. electronic warfare aircraft may have passed the strait 14 times in April alone." "According to Taiwan's state-run Central News Agency, a Chinese Y-8 aircraft flew into Taiwan's air defense identification zone before being headed off by fighter jets on April 8." "This is the seventh time Chinese military planes flew near Taiwan's airspace this year." SOURCES: The Japan Times, Reuters, U.S. Naval Institute, NHK, Central News Agency (Taiwan) https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/05/14/asia-pacific/china-military-drill-taiwan/#.Xr3ndEYzY2w https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-france-taiwan/china-warns-france-not-to-sell-weapons-to-taiwan-idUSKBN22P1ET https://news.usni.org/2020/05/14/uss-mccampbell-transits-taiwan-strait-ahead-of-taiwanese-presidential-inauguration https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200514_24/ https://www.cna.com.tw/news/firstnews/202005085007.aspx *** For story suggestions please contact tips@nextanimation.com.tw For technical and editorial support, please contact: Asia: +61 2 93 73 1841 Europe: +44 20 7542 7599 Americas and Latam: +1 800 738 8377